Rides -- tell us about 'em!

I took a ride yesterday I didn't much enjoy, alas! I wanted to get in 30 miles, as the weather was so good and it's been so long since I've had a ride of more than 12-14 miles. So I went to the C&O Canal towpath, intending to ride up 15 miles then back.

That's not what happened, though. Tire-grabbing muck is what happened, in just a few places for the first six miles, and then in many more places for the next two, to the point where I just wanted to get away! I turned around just after eight miles, and wow, was I glad to get back to my car! I drove home, changed my clothes, and then drove to my nearby (paved) trail to ride there.

So I did get in 30 miles, but not all at once. I learned that yes, I can have a ride I don't like at all! Didn't stop it from helping, though, I've gotta say; the pinched nerve in my neck wasn't bothering me after the C&O ride. Amazing how that works; biking as medicine for... well, just about everything! :)

What riding have you been doing?

I did the same 20 mile loop 3 times this week. I also rode my trainer twice, and am now taking a few rest days in a row because there was a little ache on the side of my knee which I don't want to develop into an injury. Probably time for a massage.

The only ride I did this week was one inside... it's still cold in Chicago and we aren't quite through with winter yet:mad:

but this was my first ride on a trainer with my own bike. I usually do spin classes, but the bike shop near my house is offering rides via a trainer. It was awesome... I am surprised how much harder it is to keep your pedal stroke smooth on these trainers... it was good. I'm going to be doing 2 of these a week.

I'm going to race this year :D... and need to start training like a racer :rolleyes: Getting a new Specialized Tarmac as soon as the 52's come available...

so that was my ride this weekend... nothing outside yet here in the windy city...

Don't pressure me.

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Originally Posted by Zen

Don't pressure me.

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you are always so funny Zen... I am not quick witted like some... I do not have that talent, but love it in others:D

We set off at 7:30 am, with the intention to take photos while certain display lights were on along a waterfront.

But we were too late, so kept on riding and went somewhere else to take pics. at top of a hill.

About 18 kms. but it was near freezing. Am enjoying the peace now. :)

I did the N2 ride yesterday morning - a ride that 7rider often mentions since it's a regular Saturday morning thing. It was a fairly large group for a cold winter morning. There was one minor bizarre crash involving 2 cyclists. One of the cyclists said that he started having trouble breathing and just lost control. So during an uphill sprint, he veered into the cyclist. Fortunately, the cyclist that he ran into only ended up with a sore hip. That ride was 67 miles.
This morning, I joined 2 of the guys from the shop to do the "early shop ride". We meet at 7:30 - an hour before the shop ride begins. When we started, the weather was decent - about 38 degrees but very cloudy. They were calling for rain late in the day but it started to sprinkle about 15 miles into the ride. And it got really damp and cold. So even though we were cold, wet and couldn't see very well, we had a lot of fun. That one was 35 miles.

I had an amazing club ride yesterday. An unseasonable blast of warm air, started in the mid 60s, highs hit 74, and we rode in shorts and short sleeve jerseys by the ride end (I did start in my PI vagabound jacket, but unzipped the sleeves off pretty fast). Imagine that, in the middle of january! Everyone was in great spirits and pushed hard, despite some strong headwinds, but then we felt it later!

Our club rides had been cancelled due to bad weather the last couple of weekends, so it felt so great to be riding outside again!

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Originally Posted by hammertime

The only ride I did this week was one inside... it's still cold in Chicago and we aren't quite through with winter yet:mad:

but this was my first ride on a trainer with my own bike. I usually do spin classes, but the bike shop near my house is offering rides via a trainer. It was awesome... I am surprised how much harder it is to keep your pedal stroke smooth on these trainers... it was good. I'm going to be doing 2 of these a week.

I'm going to race this year :D... and need to start training like a racer :rolleyes: Getting a new Specialized Tarmac as soon as the 52's come available...

so that was my ride this weekend... nothing outside yet here in the windy city...

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Ditto on the trainer ride today. 50mi hilly course on the computrainer. It kicked my butt! I probably went out too hard at the beginning trying not to let one rider overtake me, then she blew up and quit at mile 23, ugh! She wasn't the only one to bail either. Only 2 of us finished the whole course, and I was sooo glad when it was done. But I was proud of myself for sticking it out, although my legs are still hurting. . .

I can't wait until the weather is good enough to ride outdoors!

Florida weather is wonderful this time of year. I did 40 miles on Friday; Saturday's group ride was a blast and I managed to hang on to the front group for longer than usual - 50 miles; Today, we went around Lake Istokpoga and had a great tailwind for the ride home - 70 miles. I rode in a sleeveless jersey today it was so warm. Remind when I am complaining about the heat in August that there is a reason I live here.:)

I've also been training indoors way too much. Indiana weather has yet to get decent for riding. I got in a 20 miler yesterday outside and it was wet. Did a short run today and it too was wet. Tonight we are supposed to have a 30 degree temperature drop, yuk o barf! I will be soooooooo glad when the weather gets better. I really want to get stronger because I'm moving in August to Philadelphia. Sounds like there's a big cycling community there and I'd like to be in good riding shape. I'd LOVE to be able to race if I can find the time. It's a little daunting not knowing the area and trying to find safe places and groups with which to train. Anyone familiar with the area? :)

Went on my first group ride Saturday since November! It was really hard for me to get going. I would never have imagined that I would have such a hard time getting back in the groove. At our half way stopping point I was ready to turn around and go back to the truck. I didn't thought. ;) I made it through to the end (30 miles) and was happy that I did. Just goes to show that the trainer doesn't keep me in as good of riding shape as riding outside does.

I am looking forward to my next group ride on Saturday. :)

We have been riding to the opera for about 3 years; we hated the car/parking/traffic situation so much it was a no brainer. But Yesterday it started to rain and it was about 42 degrees when we left the house. It rained on us lightly all the way there. Riding to downtown on a sunday is nice because there IS less traffic, so it was a nice ride.
We got to a Pho Restaurant across the street from the opera house. As we walked in, it started to pour out. I was pretty wet already so i was glad to miss the deluge outside. We wore raincoats, booties and rainpants. The opera was great (Il Trovatore) with wonderful singers and scenery. It was dark when we got out of the opera, so we rode the 1 mile or so to the light rail station and took it to our neighborhood.
I'm still riding my old Raleigh Mixte, which has been a strengthening exercise, but I'm really glad to have it.

I have been taking spinning classes on Sat to replace the bike Shop group ride that I can not do due to the several bumpy roads they go on. :( I am enjoying the classes and I should think they are going to be beneficial to my road riding. The instructors rotate each week and they are all different but in a good way.

It was really windy Sun but I was determined to get some actual road miles in so I did my smooth highway route and did 24 miles. With the wind at my back I was SUPERWOMAN... not so much on the way home :rolleyes: Like nolemom I was sleeveless so I figure there are worse things than gusty wind!

On Saturday I went for a cold ride, but I was all bundled up so it was all good. It was about 15 miles; not sure since my bike computer wouldn't cooperate. My road bike needs new tires, I know, but my house also needs a roof so I'm way too cheap to buy tires at the moment. While it was a good ride, I was worried about my tires...I guess I'll have to get some soon so that I can mark that particular worry off my list.

Yesterday was a total garden day. Today we have thunderstorms, but it's clearing up now so maybe I'll get a little spin in.

I've been back on the bike for a couple of weeks now--slow, but starting to get back in shape. I was off for about six weeks thanks to a bad lower back. Man, ever since I hit 40 a few years ago, it's just been one injury after another. I really need to learn how to work with this new middle-aged me, so as not to spend so much time on the DL.

It's summer here, so I'm enjoying some early morning rides. Nothing too challenging, and I have to stop occasionally to stretch my back. On Saturday I saw the cutest baby llama, about the size of a puppy, but I can't seem to download the photos from my phone.